NZ286811A - Tray or container for display of articles has slotted article retainers and a divider capable of providing stacking support - Google Patents

Description

28 6 8 1 1 Patents Form No. 5 N 2. PATENT on";< . ^ «>m;r.s<0r.*x:S5S? f ;2 7 MAY 139?. ;receive® ;P21037/ES ;NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT 1953 ;COMPLETE SPECIFICATION ;PACKAGING OF ARTICLES AND COMPONENTS THEREFOR ;We, Eveready New Zealand Limited, a New Zealand company of 8-10 Gabador Place, Mt Wellington, Auckland, New Zealand, do hereby declare this invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: ;28 6 8 1 1 ;-2 - ;This invention relates to the packaging of articles and components therefor. More particularly, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to an article retainer and a packaged unit containing an arrangement of articles in retainers. ;Many conventional retainers or containers for holding articles require, in cases where the articles are not self supporting in an upright position, support by an adjacent article, otherwise the articles may be stacked in the container in an undesirable way. A disadvantage with simply stacking articles by perching them side by side in an upright position in a container is that as the articles for sale are removed by consumers from the container, the remaining articles may topple over due to the adjacent supporting article being removed. ;Manufacturers generally do not have control over how their articles are displayed for sale by retailers. Retailers also generally have to allow for labour costs associated with stacking articles in a desirable way for sale at, for example, supermarkets or petrol stations, as the goods are usually transported to retailers in a compact manner in boxes to reduce shipping and storage space. The extra labour unit required for a retailer to display a manufacturer's article may act as a deterrent for the proper display of articles for sale. ;It is an object of the invention to provide an article retainer, and a packaged unit which overcomes at least some of the abovementioned problems, or to at least provide the public with the useful choice. ;According to a first broad aspect of the invention there is provided an article retainer comprising two spaced apart article retaining means and supporting means to support the retaining means in position, the retaining means being provided with apertures, in use, to retain the articles. ;According to an alternative broad aspect of the invention there is provided an article retainer comprising a base and sides wherein the base is provided with spaced apart ;286 8 1 1i ;- 3 - ;article retaining means extending upwardly from the base, the retaining means being provided with apertures, in use, to retain the articles. ;According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided an article retainer comprising a container with sides and a base and wherein a plurality of retainers according to the first aspect of the invention are arranged on the base. ;Preferably dividers are provided within the container between the retainers, the dividers being of a sufficient size to support retainers according to the second aspect of the invention thereupon the top edge of the dividers. Desirably a portion of each divider adjacent the front of the retainer is removed to allow for easier access to articles. ;According to a third broad aspect of the invention there is provided a packaged unit for placement on a pallet comprising a retainer according to a previously expressed aspect of the invention being configured and arranged to be mountable on a supporting base, the retainers being stakable on the supporting base in layers within the surface area of the pallet and positioned for easy access of the articles from the top layer. ;Preferably a packaged unit further includes a securing means being secured about the packaged unit to maintain the packaged unit on the pallet during transportation. ;According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a method of packaging retainers on a pallet to form a packaged unit comprising the steps of: ;a) mounting a supporting base on the pallet, the supporting base being configured and arranged to support retainers according to the second aspect of the invention; ;b) stacking the retainers on the supporting base in layers within the surface ;28 6 8 1 1 ;- 4 - ;area of the pallet, the retainers being positioned for easy access of the articles from the top layer of the retainers; and c) maintaining the arrangement by securing means during transportation. ;Desirably the retainers and the supporting base are made of cardboard of a suitable strength and thickness to support the articles and allow layers of retainers to be stacked on the pallet. ;The invention will now be described by way of example only of a preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: ;Figure 1 shows a tray according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; ;Figure 2 shows an article retainer according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention; and ;Figure 3 shows retainers stacked in layers on a half pallet as a packaged unit without the unit being secured. ;Referring to figure 1, an article retainer, generally referred to as 1, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, is illustrated. The retainer 1 in the form of a tray, for retaining articles when in use, is provided with article retaining means in the form of side sections 3. Apertures 4 are provided in each side section 3 along the length of the retainer or tray 1. The apertures 4 are shaped with the upper portion 4a being wider than the lower portion 4b to allow for easier location of articles 2. The width of the lower portion 4b is slightly wider than the width of the article 2. ;The trays 1 provide support for articles 2 such as, for example, a battery 2a packaged against a cardboard backing 2b. If the battery 2a packaged against the cardboard backing 2b is a first article 2 of such a large size that a second article 2 of the same ;*86 8 1 1 size does not slot into an adjacent aperture 4, then the article 2 may be simply slotted into an aperture 4 spaced further apart from the first article 2. The rest of the articles 2 are similarly spaced to fill the tray 1 with articles 2. This way different sized articles 2 may be loaded into a tray 1 so long as the width and depth of the backing 2b or the article 2 is of such as size as to slot properly between the apertures 4 on the tray 1.

These articles 2 are not self supporting in an upright position and therefore the tray 1 has been constructed to retain the articles 2 between the apertures 4 in such a desirable position to be easily removed and reinserted into the tray 1 as required.

The trays 1 are preferably made of cardboard which are pre cut with the apertures 4 punched out, and the tray 1 is shaped with the ends 5 of the cardboard being folded to be adjacent the middle of the tray 1 such that the middle of the tray provides the support. The ends 5 of the tray 1 are adhesed to another portion of the tray 1 when configured to retain the shape as shown in figure 1. The middle section of the tray 1 provides supporting means to retain the ends 5 at a predetermined distance.

Referring to figures 1 and 2, a retainer, generally indicated by 10, according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention, is illustrated.

The retainer 10 includes a container 11 onto which trays 1 are positioned. The container 11 includes a base 12 with a front 13, rear 14 and sides 15. Dividers 16 are positioned within the container 11 to increase the support required for when a second container (as shown in figure 3) is placed on top so as not to damage the articles placed in the lower container 11. The dividers 16 are preferably provided with a tapered section 17 towards the front of the container 11 to allow for greater accessibility of articles on the retainer 10.

It will be appreciated that additional dividers 16 may be placed in the container 11 between the trays 1 to provide separation between different article lines and/or to increase the amount of support for a second retainer 10 to be stacked thereupon. 28 6 8 1 1 Spacer blocks 18 are provided adjacent the rear of the container 11 to bulk up any spaces on the base 12 not taken up by trays 1.

It will be appreciated that an article retainer may comprise a container having article retaining means integrated with and extending from the base. This way there would not be any requirement to have a plurality of trays placed on the base in the container.

Referring particularly to figure 3, a packaged unit, generally indicated by 20, with stacked retainers 10 in layers 21,22,23,24 according to a third aspect of the invention, is illustrated.

For display purposes and ease of accessability of articles 2 contained in retainers 10, a pedestal 25 to support the stacked layers of retainers 21,22,23,24 in position during transportation and when being displayed for sale on a shop floor. Furthermore, a pedestal 25 raises the retainers 10 in a position to make it easier for customers in a shop to remove the articles 2 from successive layers 21,22,23,24 on the pedestal 25.

This arrangement of trays 1 in retainers 10 on a pallet 26 is desirable in that the articles for sale are presented in an appealing way to customers. Furthermore, the articles 2 can be removed from the trays 1 horizontally as the front 13 of the containers 11 are cut low to also allow for horizontal access of the articles 2 during display for sale.

The whole arrangement can be secured by securing means such as, for example, clear plastic, cardboard, or by any suitable packaging material, and can be straped together for added secureness. At the destination the pallet and packaged unit thereupon can be positioned in a suitable place on a supermarket floor or otherwise, the packaging removed, and the containers of articles 2 displayed for sale. This arrangement may have the advantage in some cases of saving a labour unit as the articles are prepackaged for transportation to the retailers in a display for sale orientation, and 28 6 8 1 1 retailers need not further unpack or rearrange the articles in a suitable way for sale. Another advantage is that the manufacturer is able to maintain some control over how the articles are to be displayed for sale at retail outlets which require bulk stocks of articles such as, for example, supermarkets and petrol stations by supplying pre packaged units of articles on a pallet and/or half pallet.

It will also be appreciated the top layer 21 can be emptied of articles 2 and the empty container 10 discarded to reveal the layer 22 below. The layers of containers are successively emptied and subsequently removed from the pallet 26 until the last layer 24 of containers is on display for sale of articles 2 on trays 1.

The pallet 26 is half the size of a standard size pallet. The containers 11 are of such a size that when two containers 11 are stacked side by side they cover the width and length of a half pallet 26. It will be appreciated that another packaging arrangement is by having two stacked containers 11 on respective pedestals as seen in figure 3 loaded back to back and secured on a full standard pallet for transportation. An advantage with this arrangement is that the trays 1 of articles 2 in the containers 11 may be accessible from both sides of the full pallet during display for sale.

Although this invention has been described by a way of example of possible embodiments, it is to be appreciated that improvements and/or modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (5)

286811 What we claim is:

1. A container for retaining articles comprising a base, a front, a first side, a second side, a rear and a divider, and wherein a plurality of article retainers are configured and arranged on the base, each said article retainer comprising spaced apart article retaining means extending upwardly from the base, the retaining means being provided with apertures, in use, to retain articles in a substantially upright position, and wherein the divider is located between the rear and the front to define a plurality of areas on the base for placement of the plurality of article retainers, the divider being capable of providing support for at least a second container stacked thereupon.

2. A container for retaining articles comprising a base, a front, a first side, a second side, a rear and a divider, and wherein a plurality of article retainers are configured and arranged to be integral with the base, each said article retainer comprising spaced apart article retaining means extending upwardly from the base, the retaining means being provided with apertures, in use, to retain articles in a substantially upright position, and wherein the divider is located between the rear and the front to define a plurality of areas on the base for placement of the plurality of article retainers, the divider being capable of providing support for at least a second container stacked thereupon.

3. A container according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein a portion of the divider adjacent the front is removed to allow for easier access to articles.

4. A packaged unit for placement on a pallet comprising a plurality of containers according to any one of claims 1 to 3 being stackable in layers on a supporting base, the supporting base functioning as a skirt about the edge of the pallet to support the containers in position for easier access of articles from the top layer.

5. A packaged unit according to claim 4 wherein securing means is provided about the packaged unit to maintain the arrangement o£the packaged unirjp^— i -1 SEP 1997 i 28 6 8 1 1 -9 - the pallet during transportation. A method of packaging articles on a pallet to form a packaged unit comprising the steps of: a) mounting a supporting base on the pallet, the supporting base being configured and arranged to support a plurality of containers according to any one of claims 1 to 3; b) stacking the containers on the supporting base in layers within the surface area of the pallet, the containers being positioned for easier access of the articles from the top layer of the containers; and c) maintaining the arrangement by securing means during transportation. A method according to claim 6 wherein the containers and the supporting base are made of cardboard of a suitable strength and thickness to support the articles and allow a said plurality of containers to be stacked on the pallet. A packaged unit packaged by the method according to claim 6. A container substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. A packaged unit substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. A method according to claim 6 substantially as herein described. McCABE AND COMPANY By ATTORNEYS FOR THE APPLICANT ! - 1 SEP 1997 END OF CLAIMS EftCUVWD j